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For whatever reason, rappers fail to pay their taxes at a rate higher than almost any other profession. In many instances, the IRS issues a tax-dodging rapper a lien, which asserts the rights of the state to their property until they pay off their debt.

It's time for another Facebook Live video poll. We're asking users today to pick one of two lyrical beasts: Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole? If you could only listen to one of these bars-heavy MCs, who would you pick?
Cast your vote by using one of the appropriate reaction buttons-- meanwhile we'll be waiting for new albums from either MC.

The state of high-profile stars' song creation processes is such that we often don't know how credited songwriters and/or guests factor into the equation until long after the song is released. Time and time again this year, we've seen "original versions" by people other than the lead artists surface, basically proving that they're the main crative forces behind the song in question.

Pouya is arguably at the head of a talented young generation of South Florida rappers. With a head of shaggy black hair, an impeccable Three 6 Mafia flow, mastery of multi-syllabic rhyme, a friendship with Rich Chigga, and a keen sense of humor, the 21-year-old has been a model of sustained excellence since he broke onto the scene four years ago.

Tinashe's Aquarius, released over two years ago, stands as one of the most inspiring debut albums of the past few years, and it did well to cement singer/songwriter's place as one of the most promising rising artists in R&B.

Battle rap is growing as a culture. An art form once confined to street corners and YouTube has now garnered national recognition, TV programming, Pay-Per-View events, and significant attention from the mainstream media.

Instead of the excitement that usually greets a Friday evening, many of us are still wondering what the hell happened this week. While you attempt to fathom what the next four years will look like, here's a reminder that music, and hip-hop especially, is still thriving.

Group albums and mixtapes are a bit like ensemble comedies: eclectic groups of stars are given equal screen time, plot and cohesion oftentimes take a backseat to laughs, and there's far more clunkers than classics in each category.

Toronto and Atlanta are definitely dominating the conversation when it comes to which city in North America is producing the hottest hip-hop and r'n'b, whether it be from a production standpoint or a vocal standpoint. We're asking our Facebook users to vote on which city they think is winning between the two rap hotbeds-- and we're bringing the question to our loyal site users as well.

Given the hype surrounding Donald Glover's FX show "Atlanta," one could be forgiven if they forgot that Glover's rap alter ego Childish Gambino was supposed to drop an album in September. It appears that Gambino waited into the conclusion of season one of "Atlanta" before releasing the album; the intriguingly titled Awaken, My Love! will hit stores on December 2.

Lauryn Hill occupies an almost saint-like place in the rap/R&B canon. In 1998, after the dissolution of The Fugees, a 23-year-old Hill released her debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and set the record for first-week sales by a female artist. She hasn't released a proper album and has largely avoided the public eye since.

Each of this week's top four albums are debuts, including Jeezy at #1 and Meek Mill at #3. Drake and the Suicide Squad soundtrack also make it into the top 10, while A$AP Mob just misses the mark by coming in at #13. Travis Scott and Rihanna slip a few spots with their respective efforts, while Rae Sremmurd and 21 Savage/Metro Boomin continue to climb the charts with theirs. D.R.A.M.

Nearly every rapper in the country said they would be voting for Hillary Clinton or abstaining. Then it comes as no surprise that the hip hop community has nearly unanimously (Azealia Banks and Polow da Don being the most notable exceptions) condemned the election of Donald Trump to the United States presidency.

Rob $tone strutted into the HNHH office on a particularly glorious autumn day, accompanied by couple members of his 1207 crew, his publicist, and his dad. He smiled broadly. Life was good for Rob $tone. He was 21, about to go on tour with A$AP Ferg and Playboi Carti, and in the more immediate future, about to film a tutorial on how to roll up a Backwoods, his preferred method of consuming weed.

You undoubtedly know what Redbull is. If you yourself haven't purchased one of their beverages (which they are now expanding in a variety of flavours, shout out the orange one, that's my favorite, but also, limited edition kiwi), your friends have.

Forget the election. The hottest thing on the internet is the #MannequinChallenge.
If you accept the #MannequinChallenge, you and your peers must freeze in place while the cameraman weaves through the crowd to the sounds of Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles." The result is a dynamic, three-dimensional portrait of everyday life

At the beginning of August, less than two weeks after Everybody Looking, Gucci Mane announced that Woptober would be his follow-up album, basically claiming the month of October for himself. Little did he know that the month would be filled with top-notch projects from his peers; to be fair, Woptober is still in the running for the month's best, though it's a tight race.

Famous Dex is a name often associated with the virally adored new wave artists of the South, like Atlanta's Lil Yachty -- with whom he shares a hairstyle (and color) -- or Trill Sammy and Ugly God from Houston.

Earlier this year, HNHH launched a Spotify playlist called FIRE EMOJI: The Hottest Hip Hop Songs Right Now.
The playlist is updated on a daily basis. It lives on Spotify and thus is inherently imperfect, because not all super-hot hip hop songs have been added to Spotify. Still, the playlist is generally representative of the best new releases in hip hop and R&B.

From roughly 2002-2006, there was no rap crew more respected and more popular than G-Unit. Comprised of 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and eventually Young Buck, G-Unit rose to prominence on the strength of their vivid, swaggering, numerous songs about their exploits running the perilous streets of Southside Queens.

FX's "Atlanta" has taken TV by storm this fall, debuting to 3 million viewers in September, locking down a second season, and propelling its creator/actor Donald Glover into even greater multi-disciplinary fame.

A series of new, non-rap albums took over the top four spots this week, leaving just Drake and the Suicide Squad soundtrack in the overall top 10. Travis Scott, Rihanna, and the new one from D.R.A.M. represent in the teens, while Kanye West, Solange, Rae Sremmurd, Chance The Rapper, and 21 Savage/Metro Boomin take us up into the 30s.

Lil Yachty has had a huge year, and while one can't overlook the following he's built off of mixtapes like Lil Boat and Summer Songs 2, some of his most prominent moments have been on other artist's songs.

The subtitle of A$AP Mob's Cozy Tapes, Vol. 1 is Friends, and while the term could easily apply to the deep-running companionship of the group itself, the Mob have decided to include some collaborators from outside of the core group.

Young M.A is the Brooklyn sensation that is sweeping the nation. With an uncompromising, aggressive, and lyrical style, she has already won the hearts of the masses -- she is about to eclipse the one million followers milestone on Instagram (rocking the superb Instagram handle @hennynhoes).